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My throat tightens so hard I nearly choke. “And the kids?”
He shrugs, timidly running a hand through his hair, contradicting his usual arrogance. “I thought they’d enjoy a night out and a nice meal. Give them a sense of normalcy.”
“Nellie!” Mable shouts before running back up the beach.
I swallow as they all make their way toward us. Tarra watches her feet, hugging her arms around her middle as Brantly races ahead of her, but it’s her timid smile that really gets me.
“I know this means the world to them.” I can’t keep my voice from wobbling when I say, “Thank you.”
He brushes his thumb across my cheek tenderly, lovingly. “You’re welcome.”
Ida’s stare is one of mischief when I catch her eyes on us. We’re swiftly interrupted by Mable’s babbling as she thrusts one of twenty shell necklaces hanging from her neck at me.
“Check this out. Miss Ida made me the honorary friendship necklace hander-outer, and I saved this one just for you!”
I take the string of mismatched shells from her tiny hand and gratefully place them around my neck. She demands Logan bow next so she can give him one, too.
“Oh! They match.” She giggles excitedly.
Logan examines the necklace before raising his gaze to mine. “Would you look at that.”
“All right,” Ida says, gently patting the back of the youngest boy, who shyly attaches himself to her hip. “Who’s hungry?”
There’s a mixture of me’s as we trail after her, but with Logan preoccupied by Mable tugging his hand, I casually drop back beside Dorthea.
She’s oddly contemplative tonight, and for a moment, I’m afraid we’ve overstepped by bringing them here.
“Do you know how long it’s been since I could take these guys somewhere fun?” She stares at the sand, shaking her head. “Years, Pen. We do our best to give them everything they need, but Ricardo, bless my man, he’s prideful.”
“That’s putting it lightly,” I retort.
She snickers, stopping short of where everyone’s setting up for dinner.
“Stubborn ass that he is, he means well. And you know we all love you so much, right?”
Dorthea turns her face toward the sun, setting over the water. She gazes thoughtfully with a frown tugging her lips, and I place my hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry if any of this made you feel uncomfortable. I can talk to Logan. See if he can take you guys back if you want. Whatever you need.”
“Don’t.”
“What?” I ask, slowly lowering my hand.
“Apologize when you’ve done nothing wrong. You do it all the time, but you’re rarely ever at fault.”
I choke on a second apology, trying to claw its way up my throat. Much like my mouth running away from me, it’s an impulse that’s difficult to control.
“I’m not bothered by his kindness. I’m grateful.” She nods to where Logan and Brantly are helping Ida sort the food on the grill. “I appreciate you more than you can imagine, but I don’t want your apologies, Penelope. I want you to be happy.”
Of course she means with Logan, but she doesn’t understand. The delicacy of our situation is about far more than just happiness.
Logan takes a bite of food and tosses it in the air, clapping when Brantly jumps for it.
Guess that doesn’t stop me from wanting it anyway, does it?
Tucking my toes in a cool pile of sand, I mutter, “I’ll be happy when you guys are taken care of. Then I’ll worry about me.”
She tuts disapprovingly before pulling me in for a hug. I melt into her sisterly embrace, missing how close Carrie and I once were—how close our family was—and that feeling of coming home.
